Discount entry to beer festival

THE town’s newest beer festival opens this evening and it’s set to be reet good!

The inaugural Reet Good Beer Festival runs until Sunday and features more than 80 real ales as well as lagers, ciders, Pimms and even Prosecco.

There’ll also be a host of bands across the different nights from local favourites and indie bands to Northern Soul and one of the world’s top brass bands.

All money raised will go towards helping Wigan Youth Zone raise the aspirations of young people across Wigan Borough.

Wigan Youth Zone’s Spencer Parry, Reet Good Beer Fest organiser, said: “We hold a lot of events to raise the £1.6 million required to run Wigan Youth Zone each year but this is the first time we have done a charity beer festival.

“We’ve been overwhelmed at the interest now the Reet Good Beer Festival has finally become a reality. We’ve always had great support from the community and local businesses but for the average man who can’t give us a hefty cash donation, this is their chance to give something back to the town simply by coming down and enjoying a few pints. This weekend promises to be something unmissable.”

The beer festival will take place in the marquee that has appeared on the large fenced area on Mesnes Field, the green space behind Wigan Youth Zone.

All Wigan Youth Zone sessions for young people will run as normal and the beer festival will be run as an entirely independent event.

Tickets will start from just £3 rising to £7 for the busier sessions and are available online or on the door (until the 500 person capacity is reached).

The Music

Chonkinfeckle – Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Chonkinfeckle shot to national fame in 2014 when their song ‘I’m from Wigan, me’ became the unofficial anthem of Wigan Athletic.

Noasis is the definitive tribute band to Manchester’s five piece super group Oasis. Formed by die hard Oasis fans back in 2006, the band has toured extensively and with over 600 performances to date has justly earned their reputation as leader of the pack.

Also performing – Jamie Reeves. Ricky.

Midnight Soul Sisters - Saturday night headline

Midnight Soul Sisters are a team of eight women who are all professional entertainers, amazing vocalists and who share a passion for music. Also performing - Quaintest Show on Earth, Hamilton Brown – Lionel Richie tribute.

Sunday Beer and Brass day.

Foden’s Band and the Pemberton Old Band

Around the world Foden’s Band is a trademark that musicians associate with inestimable class and musicianship.

The Pemberton Old Band is a regional favourite with a long and outstanding history that dates back to the late 19th century. Watch these two bands play together on a day that promises to be highlight in the brass band calendar. Sunday is also family day where under 18s go free (but must be accompanied by an adult) and pensioners can gain entry for just £1.

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Thursday’s Wigan Evening Post to get a £2 entry discount.